Faculty art exhibit showcases professors’ work

The beginning of the College’s Fall semester also marks the arrival of the annual Art Faculty Exhibition, which opened last Wednesday.

With more than 20 pieces filling the walls of the gallery in Holman Hall, guests are sure to be entertained with the varied amount of mediums.

Near the center of the gallery sits the much-publicized and controversial “Patriot Act: The Home Version” by Michael Kabbash, assistant professor of art.

A spin-off of Monopoly, the game trades the traditional metal playing pieces of a racecar and boot for icons like a dollar sign, an airplane and the Constitution.

The game’s highly political stance on the implications of the PATRIOT Act is evident in its objective and set-up. The winner of the game is the person who can “maintain his or her civil liberties.”

Guantanamo Bay serves as the jail space. Rather than being valued by cost, the importance of spaces is based on security risk. The game has gained considerable media attention in the past few months.

Several prints are included in the exhibition, such as “Hong Kong 2004” by Fanky Chak, assistant professor of art and graphic design coordinator. Taking up an entire wall in the gallery, the piece is a collage of snapshots from around the city.

Kenneth Kaplowitz, professor of art and coordinator of the art department’s photography program, has a collection of four prints entitled “Biblical Series.” The collection is composed in ink and depicts several stories from the Bible.

Elizabeth Van Der Heijden, assistant professor of art, has two prints, “Evolution III” and “Natural History IV.” Both are photographs of modern day people placed beside a museum exhibit of ancient humans.

As engaging as these two prints are, Heijden’s third addition to the exhibit is even more intriguing. Placed in front of her two aforementioned pieces is an overturned white plastic bucket entitled “Penn Station.”

From underneath, the bucket emits the sound of rhythmic drumming, in what seems to honor street performers.

A short distance from Heijden’s exhibit, a woven circle of synthetic fabric entitled “Bitch” sits on a platform.

Created by Elizabeth Mackie, art department chair, each piece of fabric is exquisitely sewn together. Upon close observation, one will discover that printed words grace each of the fine synthetic pages.

Another thought-provoking and original piece is the handcrafted “It Don’t Mean Nothin'” by Bruce Rigby, professor of art. Depicting a locked door held shut by metal bars and chains, the piece is extremely thoughtful and well-constructed.

On the other side of the room lie two of the most elaborate parts of the exhibit.

A television playing a looped video of symbolic images sits next to an arcade game masked as an ATM.

Around both of these are two tattered photographic prints along with an essay by Ricardo Miranda, assistant professor of art.

Entitled “FALLOUT: What’s Left,” this mix of different mediums works to make a statement about Nicaraguan culture while engaging the viewer with its interactive elements.

With more pieces to enjoy in this year’s Art Faculty Exhibition, one can easily spend an hour or more perusing the single-room gallery.

“It’s just really cool to see all these exhibits and concepts right in front of you,” Michelle Nugent, sophomore fine arts major and art gallery employee, said.